A Case Study of the Impact of Non-tariff Barriers on Trade Flow between Liberia and Nigeria (2015 - 2019)

The objective of this study was to identify the operational and policy bottlenecks that are

adversely affecting trade growth between Liberia and Nigeria. Focus was on assessing the

impact of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) on the flow of goods from Nigeria to Liberia

and vice versa; how the NTBs are affecting the flow of goods and

people; what are the inhibiting factors, and make recommendations

for consideration by policy makers in the trade sector of the two

counties. Majority of the Liberian and Nigerian traders that travel

by road to do business are small (petty) business people. They

travel with their goods or put them on the trucks from Nigeria to

Liberia. The question that the study tried to investigate was that

"why is it that these business people are not able to expand their

businesses and tap successfully on the big Nigerian market of

over one hundred million consumers?" The study found out that

the Non-tariff barriers are a contributing factor to restraining trade

flow within West Africa, especially between Liberia and Nigeria.

The NTBs are a binding constraint inhibiting trade and limiting

gains from trade. Among the NTBs affecting trade flow between

Liberia and Nigeria are the many checkpoints on the highway and

border posts, the practice of extorting money from traders, and

the high level of corruption and bribery at border custom posts on

the trade route. The study concludes with operational and policy

recommendations